Within the boundaries of Nanxing Commandery, one of the Thirteen Commanderies of Yangzhou, within the private chambers of 'Lüyi,' the premier courtesan of the Liufeng Tower in the commandery city. The zither music flowed, winding and rich, sometimes swift and light, other times slow and tender.

The melody possessed the power to pull the listener's heart through turbulent shifts in mood. To achieve such evocative depth in musical performance was truly extraordinary.

Lüyi's appearance was merely comely, but her artistry secured her position as the top-ranked courtesan. Inside the pavilion, besides Lüyi playing the zither, there was a handsome young man clad in a white robe, his eyes closed, listening intently to the music.

Suddenly— Footsteps sounded on the staircase. "Lüyi, you may retire now," the handsome youth commanded with an air of detachment.

"Yes, my lord." The courtesan withdrew with practiced obedience. The young man felt a prickle of unease.

He tolerated no interruptions while listening to music, unless it signaled a matter of grave importance. What great matters could possibly arise at this juncture?

"Is it about my dealings at Lanze Lake? Or perhaps muscling in on Ninth Brother's cargo?" the youth mused to himself.

"Master," an elderly man entered, bowing deeply. "Hm?" The handsome youth turned his gaze toward the newcomer.

"Elder Meng is dead. Killed by Teng Qingshan, the commander of the Black Armored Army.

And of the hundred assassins sent, only thirteen remain alive," the old man reported. The youth's expression flickered momentarily before he returned to his composed demeanor.

"Very well. You may leave now." "Yes." The elder retreated.

The pavilion was left silent, save for the handsome youth alone. He absently stroked the jade thumb ring he wore, his eyes unfocused, clearly deep in thought.

"Ninth Brother, Ninth Brother, you are quite fortunate to have encountered a master like Teng Qingshan. With such a prodigious genius in the Guiyuan Sect, and with Uncle Zhuge guiding him, the sect will likely become even stronger!

As for Elder Meng... his death is somewhat regrettable.

But I have mastered all his saber techniques. Now that he’s gone, he’s gone." The young man suddenly spoke aloud.

"Lüyi, play me a tune." Soon after, Lüyi ascended the stairs. "My lord, what piece do you wish to hear?" she inquired.

"Ambush from Ten Sides!" the young man smiled faintly. Lüyi’s heart tightened, yet she immediately began to play.

A slight smile touched the corner of the youth's lips. "Ninth Brother, Ninth Brother, you are indeed calculating.

Father gave you ten years, and you spent over half that time overseas. That speaks to great perseverance!

You understand the saying, 'A dull axe takes more time to cut wood,' but surely you also grasp that 'The tree that stands taller than the rest is the first to face the wind.' Had you remained honing your craft overseas for a few more years, I suspect any one of Big Brother’s faction would have grown wary of you. With so many brothers secretly uniting against you, I wonder if you will still be the one left smiling in the end!" Teng Qingshan killing Meng Tian meant nothing to this handsome youth.

Because he was a merchant! A Houtian master, even if listed on the Earth Ranking, remained merely a Houtian master.

Two fists cannot fight four hands. Once faced with a volley of arrows from hundreds of men, even the strongest will be riddled through.

As for merchants practicing martial arts, to them, it was solely for self-preservation. Zhu Tong once said one must not place all their eggs in one basket.

Even with hired guards, one cannot rely entirely on master protectors for safety. One must possess the capability to defend oneself.

* Creak! Creak!

The wheels of the cargo carts rumbled along the official road, and beads of sweat formed on the brows of the Black Armored Army soldiers. Heavens!

It was the height of the sixth month’s oppressive heat, late afternoon—scorching! And every soldier of the Black Armored Army was clad in thick, dense heavy armor, which felt like a furnace beneath.

Moreover, the armor was black! Black absorbs heat most readily.

During the most intense heat, the soldiers were forced to remove their helms and unfasten the joints of their heavy suits just to vent some heat. Fortunately, the Black Armored soldiers possessed exceptional physiques and internal energy, enabling them to endure this.

What ordinary man would dare march under the summer sun encased in black heavy armor? They would surely cook alive.

"It's too hot!" Teng Qinghu wiped his forehead, streams of sweat pouring down. "Qingshan, why aren't you sweating at all?" "Qinghu, are you comparing yourself to the Commander?" Du Hong chuckled from beside him.

Teng Qingshan was indeed unaffected by the heat; neither winter nor summer posed any challenge to him. It was known that his constitution could withstand the terrifying low temperatures of the Bihan Pool.

Such heat, even while wearing the Profound Iron inner armor and the standard black combat uniform of the Black Armored Army, resulted in not a single drop of perspiration from Teng Qingshan. With his body tempered to such a state, Teng Qingshan could withstand being roasted over a common flame.

He could endure temperatures dropping to extreme lows. Likewise, high temperatures up to several hundred degrees held no terror for him.

Only an intensely ferocious flame would cause him discomfort. "Brother Zhu, it is so hot, why don't you rest inside the carriage?" Teng Qingshan asked with a smile.

Zhu Chongshi laughed and shook his head. "This bit of heat is nothing.

I've endured far worse heat on some of the islands overseas. Brother Qingshan, you have truly worked hard on this journey.

We should clear the boundary of Xuyang Commandery tonight and enter Chu Commandery. We should arrive at our destination by evening tomorrow." Since the battle at the Sanshi Inn, the convoy had encountered no further danger.

The journey had been smooth sailing. "When we arrive, Brother Qingshan, you must rest well at my residence.

This time, I truly owe everything to you, brother," Zhu Chongshi expressed with heartfelt gratitude. "Haha...

If you wish to thank me, wait until we reach your place, and let my men rest properly for a night. After half a month on the road, even when they sleep, they dare not completely relax," Teng Qingshan replied, smiling.

Everyone felt a sense of relief now that they were nearing their destination. As time passed, when the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the world into twilight, Teng Qingshan and his group reached the border of Xuyang Commandery.

"Just a few more miles, and we'll cross out of Xuyang Commandery into Chu Commandery," Zhu Chongshi said, his face alight with joy. Teng Qingshan suddenly frowned, looking towards a manor not far off, as he heard waves of crying emanating from that direction—and so many people crying at once.

Soon, Zhu Chongshi heard it too. "What's happening up ahead?" Zhu Chongshi asked, surprised.

"So many people crying; even if someone died in their family, it wouldn't bring out this many mourners," Teng Qingshan agreed, puzzled. However, they were pressing onward and saw no reason to cause trouble.

After advancing for less than half an hour, Teng Qingshan and his party arrived at an inn situated precisely on the border between Xuyang Commandery and Chu Commandery. Cloud-Coming Inn!

The four large characters emblazoned on the flag were perfectly clear. "Welcome, esteemed guests!

Hurry inside!" Two servers rushed out to greet them, and the innkeeper himself soon followed, overflowing with warmth. The usual arrangement was followed: the guards were directed to the rear courtyard to eat and watch the cargo, while the Black Armored soldiers ate in the main hall on the first floor.

Since it was early today, there was no need to rush; they could eat properly. "Hey, waiter, let me ask you something?" Teng Qingshan asked with a smile.

"Please, esteemed guest, ask away." The waiter, intimidated by the Black Armored Army's uniforms, was exceedingly compliant. "A few miles back on the road we came from, there's a manor.

Did something major happen there? I noticed a lot of very miserable crying," Teng Qingshan inquired.

Immediately, the surrounding Black Armored soldiers turned to the waiter, eager to hear the answer. When the waiter heard this, he sighed helplessly.

"Esteemed guest, speaking of that, the Jin Family Manor... ah, it's truly tragic.

About a month ago, someone in the Jin Family Manor would disappear without a trace every single day. Gone without a trace, dead or alive—not even a spot of blood could be found!" "Oh?" Teng Qingshan and the others listened intently.

"This continued for about half a month, one person vanished daily! If one were to say wolves from the nearby Flaming Mountain came down to eat people, there would still have to be bones, bloodstains!

At the very least, if someone died, there should have been a scream. But no one saw anything, no one heard anything.

People simply vanished into thin air. Naturally, the clansmen of the Great Jin Manor were terrified!

What's worse is, half a month ago, two people began vanishing every single day!" Teng Qingshan was startled by this report. People disappearing without any trace was completely outside the realm of the normal.

"It was the same as before; no one knew the reason. Just living people, gone.

And just last night, the Great Jin Manor lost three people all at once!" the waiter lamented. "Three people!

Just gone! At this rate, how long can the Great Jin Manor last?" Teng Qingshan and his retinue listened, a chill creeping into them.

People vanishing into thin air? It started with one a day, then two a day, and starting last night, three in one day!

"I heard the clansmen of the Great Jin Manor are already discussing migrating and moving out," the waiter shook his head. "Although the Great Jin Manor has occupied this land for hundreds of years, guarding the ancestral grounds, they don't wish to leave.

But this kind of life is too frightening. I reckon the Great Jin Manor will evacuate within these few days." Teng Qingshan knew well how difficult it was for an entire large manor to abandon the land that nourished them for generations.

Because, once they migrated, where would the clansmen get food and drink? Where would they find fertile fields?

It was all complicated. If they had substantial wealth, it would be easier.

But most manors, lacking their own land, could not possibly sustain a migrating population. The process of migration itself would be utterly devastating.

"To be honest, even we at the inn are a bit scared. But no one here has disappeared yet.

Everyone is clinging to luck; if one day someone here vanishes too, I fear all of us will have to leave," the waiter said, shaking his head as he walked away. Teng Qingshan's group fell into discussion, only able to sigh in resignation.

Whether it was a master assassin or wild wolves and leopards taking prey, there should have been some sound, perhaps even a trace of blood. ...

The convoy needed to keep moving, so they could only share their awe and lamentation briefly. The next morning, Teng Qingshan and his men resumed their journey, stepping onto the territory of Chu Commandery.

Their spirits lightened considerably, and by evening, they reached the main gate of the stronghold belonging to the 'Red Stone Gang,' the premier faction within Huai City of Chu Commandery. A vast throng of bandits and ruffians emerged, led by their Three Chiefs.

"Brother Zhu, is this the destination?" Teng Qingshan asked, slightly surprised. Zhu Chongshi merely offered a cryptic smile.

"Big Brother!" The First Chief's eyes instantly reddened upon seeing Zhu Chongshi. "It's been years, Big Brother, and you've grown dark!" The other two chiefs behind him bowed in unison.

"Master!" Seeing this, Teng Qingshan immediately understood. This gang was the force under Zhu Chongshi’s command.

It turned out that while Zhu Chongshi roamed overseas, he had also ordered his trusted subordinates to establish this horse bandit group. Zhu Chongshi and the First Chief embraced, deeply moved.

"Qingshan, this is my sworn brother, Liu Hu! Second Brother, this is Commander Teng Qingshan of the Black Armored Army from the Guiyuan Sect!

He is a master listed on the Earth Ranking. If I hadn't had Brother Qingshan this time, all those years of hardship overseas would have been in vain," Zhu Chongshi introduced.

Liu Hu understood perfectly what this shipment meant to his Big Brother. It represented not just the years of hardship Zhu Chongshi endured abroad, but also whether he could secure the position of the Zhu family patriarch in the future.

"Brother Qingshan!" The First Chief, 'Liu Hu,' clasped his hands in respect. "You protected Big Brother's cargo; I, Liu Hu, will never forget this immense favor!

If you ever need anything, just command, and I, Liu Hu, will not bat an eye!"